Older type radios were probably more tolerant of this practice. But, modern computer controlled radios don't like to have the power cord pulled. Radios like Elecrafts' K3 or KX3 and many others are more like computers than radios, and when shutdown properly, store many operating parameters to nonvolatile memory at the time of shutdown, so that when powered on again, it is in the same configuration as it was when last used. Many parameters values are kept so that as you change bands, the filter settings, mode, NR/NB and many others setttings are saved so that when you change back to that band, the radio is just like you left it. Same for turning the radio off and then back on. If you just pull the plug, none of this is saved, and it looks like it did the last time it was saved. This is true for many internal parameters as well, so it's not a good idea to just pull the plug on a radio like this.

Your dad's old TS-520S may not care, and some would say you're saving wear and tear on the switch.

It is NOT a good idea to use the power supply on/off and not turn the rig off on the front panel for many of the ultra new rigs.

Any radio like the yaesu's (FT-2000, 950, 5000 and 9000) have very orderly power sequencing built intothe radio to make sure that the internal firmware and software come up in the correct sequence. They don't necessarily have internal software code that looks at everything and preserves integrity if you do not use the radio's power button to sequence events.... Don't be surprised if something gets trashed if you don't followthe correct sequence.

Don't own and ICOM or Kenwood so I don't know how they would react to this.

lug everything into a 5 or 6 hole zip strip. then turn on everything with it. after replacing the on off and stand by switch ( now made of unobtainum) on a ft 101, you learn its easy and cheap to replace the zip strip when the switch fails as opposed to changing the switch on the radios.

I have been in Ham radio and electronics for more then 50 years. It has always been good practice to turn the power supply on first then the piece of electronic equipment, and reverse the order for shut off. This also holds for plugging in wall warts for charging HTs, Cell phones and rechargeable electronic equipment. Plug the charger in first then the the equipment and reverse the order for removal. Modern equipment has many types of protective circuitry, but why take a chance. The reason for this order power switching is to avoid back EMF which can produce a voltage spike many times the amount of the set voltage. I will always use the power supply on equipment on, and equipment off power supply off mode of operation.

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